Waldorf Mama Roll Call - Page 2

[sweetest]

I'm jumping in! We just sent in our application to start dd at the Waldorf preschool here in the fall. I am a WOHM and dh is a WOHF so dd was been in a mainstream daycare center up until now (its a non-profit, church based center).

We are excited about becoming a Waldorf family. Before I went to law school I was a high school teacher and learned about Waldorf when I became really fustrated with the public school system. I am currently looking for a job rith now and a major factor will be how close it is to the school!

Im looking forward to meeting all of you!

[Deborah]

Originally Posted by Shaki

Thanks for the input Deborah.

I always appreciate your generous and insightful responses.

I've been trying to think up the right response to this...:

and I found it. Thank you.
Deborah

[browneyedsol]

"Money is an issue for us."

This is true for a great many. I suggest you apply for tuition aid. You may be surprised that you qualify for some help. All schools are different with this.

Also, there are many waldorf homeschooling cooperatives and smaller programs popping up. There is one that comes to mind called Shining Star School in Portland. It's affordable because of parent involvement and a shorter day. I've never visited, but I hear good things about this program and similar programs.

I wouldn't advise transferring a Waldorf educated child into public school until grade 4 if it can be avoided. It depends on the child, but generally speaking, I would try to avoid that due to the different pace of academics.
Several parents choose Waldorf for preK and move children to other schools for K/1 and beyond to address the concerns you speak about.

[purplevega]

Hi all,

My name is Kim and I am mama to 21 month old DS, Ashton. We attend a Waldorf playgroup once a week. Currently the founding members are try to start a kindergarden sometime next year. Our group is working with the Waldorf school in Clearwater, FL. We also have a retired waldorf teacher who we use for information.

I have to say I love the playgroup. I feel like the kids get to be kids. Climbing trees, singing songs, lost of free play. I also love the rhythm of each gathering. The breathing in and out of each change of activity. At 1st I had a huge problem with the reading thing. But through research I have learned that waldorf does not stiffle those children who want to learn, it just lets them learn at their pace. I still read to my son nightly because both him and I love it. I just know when the time is right he will read.

I am hoping and praying that we will be able to afford the Waldorf school when it opens. I am glad that the founding members are friends!!!

Kim

[medeanj]

I'm Lisa. I have 23 mo b/g twins and we have been attending the Parent/Child program at River Valley Waldorf School in PA. DH and I love it.

As a parent of twins we found that a routine makes a very happy family. So working our way into Waldorf parenting has not been too much of a shock, but we still have a ways to go.

Admittedly we do not have a lot of wooden toys, the plastic toy kitchen is Freecycled. We have a second tabletop wood stove in the actual kitchen itself. We have some playsilks and old silk scarves, but also old receiving blankets and cloth napkins have been very useful in their play.

We do not allow the children to watch any television, which is tough since my BIL works for a major network and cannot fully understand the semi-'luddite' way of life. We do not have cable, but it is hooked to the DVD player for DH and I to enjoy a movie once a week.

I am trying to understand the concept of the reasoning of wearing a skirt or dress in Waldorf parenting (trying to remember where I even heard it). I was always a pant person. I could also be off my rocker for thinking such a thing

At the time of this writing, I am planning on leaving my position at the end of the summer to spend more time with my children. It is very hard to hear from my DH that my DD asked him, "Where's Mommy?"

"Mommy went bye bye, she will be back later."

"Mommy work?"

I may need your support in the coming months.

[Rhonwyn]

A lot of the female teachers wear skirts but I don't think I was ever encouraged to wear a skirt instead of pants as a parent. My eldest's teacher (4th) wears pants and skirts and dresses. Also her dresses are not what I would call feminine in the least. Very practical.

Maybe you are just picking up a skirt vibe? I once thought we would have to drive a Volvo to be Waldorf parents!

[dharmama]

I am trying to understand the concept of the reasoning of wearing a skirt or dress in Waldorf parenting (trying to remember where I even heard it). I was always a pant person. I could also be off my rocker for thinking such a thing

i read that it's to soften the physical form....aprons are often used over pants to do the same thing.

[medeanj]

Originally Posted by Rhonwyn

Maybe you are just picking up a skirt vibe? I once thought we would have to drive a Volvo to be Waldorf parents!

Around here Subaru Outbacks and Hondas seem to be the rage

[browneyedsol]

"I once thought we would have to drive a Volvo to be Waldorf parents!"


YOU DON'T????

[Noah's mommy]

Trying to figure out where I fit in with all of this. In college my sorority house was right next to a Waldorf inspired day care co-op. I had heard a few things about it and I was so curious as to what Waldorf was. I did a great deal of research and really fell in love with the practices and ideals. That was 10 years ago and now I have a 2 year old and a 4 month old. I've been reading a great deal of Waldorf literature (...Child's First Teacher and the like) in an effort to fine tune my understandings. I'm in a bind now though-we live in an area with 2 Waldorf schools each about 45 minutes away. I would love to attend a parent toddler program but our house is on the market to move closer to Dh's work. This would take us at least 1.5 hours away from the closest Waldorf program. In the DC suburbs, I don't find much in the way of Waldorf ed-I'm torn between wanting to stay in our current location or move closer to work. I'm actually a public school teacher who is taking next year off to be with the babies-it would be a great time to take advantage of Waldorf but I feel like it is a bit of a waste without any hope of follow up (except from me) int he coming years. I know I'm rambling, and I apologize, my point is (really, I have one : )is that I love Waldorf, want a Waldorf school, but I have NOTHING near me once we move. *sigh* Part of me wants to build our life around the Waldorf schools, but it isn't really practical from a financial stand point.

[mamadawg]

Hi everyone...I'm not sure I belong here, but I'm subbing for insight & hearing about other people's experiences . My girls (2.75 year old twins) are enrolled in a Waldorf inspired preschool starting in the Fall. We're very excited. It's a sweet little school and they're very excited to go to school so they can paint.

[royaloakmi]

Hi all - I have 2.5 yo b/g twins . . . we were pretty psyched to find out about Waldorf (gee, so there's really other people out there who sing to their kids and don't plop them in front of the tube all day?!)

Honestly, the thought of sending out kids to public schools terrifies us. The demands/expectations placed on children these days seem totally out of whack with nature and allowing your child to have a childhood.

We've been doing parent-tot classes in the Detroit area and hope to move to Ann Arbor, MI in a couple of years when the kids are ready for kindergarten.

[wonderactivist]

Originally Posted by browneyedsol

I have been thinking about the label "crunchy". It doesn't offend me, but it makes me curious. It does occasionally irritate me to be labeled "crunchy" simply because there is an association with Waldorf ways. Anyone else feel like this?

: Oh I just LOVE this. To me, "crunchy" stands for granola which we munch on camping trips and hikes. It's SO much better than "sappy" which is the label I have heard more about Waldorfy types. I'm not into labels.

DH & I haven't owned Birkenstocks in 10 years! We never had a Volvo...or an SUV. And while I'm ALMOST old enough (some charts say I'm a member of that generation), the fact is that I was a baby in that wild summer of the hippies. Thanks for the fun.

I wonder how Rudolf Steiner would look in tie-dyes?

Lucie

P.S. I did find a sort of reggae-looking Steiner which I put here:
http://www.wonderhs.com/id15.html I think he looks like he just came home from a Bob Marley concert and is thinking of world peace.

[Mommy&Will]

Originally Posted by Noah's mommy

Part of me wants to build our life around the Waldorf schools, but it isn't really practical from a financial stand point.

I can completely understand where you are coming in this post. We are trying to decide if we want to send our ds to the Waldorf school 45 minutes away for 2 days a week, and still do the parent tot program with both boys. So much driving. Kinda defeats the purpose of a Waldorf education, huh? But we love the parent tot program as it is so inspiring for the whole family (all of us attend).

:

Maybe you could purchase a pre-school curriculum to do at home. I consider doing that, but I also really feel I need the support of real people to help me on this journey.

[Deborah]

Hi Julie,

Perhaps you could advertise and see if there are a few other people near where you live who would also like to do a parent and tot thing. If there are 3 or 4 other families, then you could check with the waldorf school for help finding a leader. The 45 minute drive is a lot with little ones.
Deborah

[mistymama]

Hi everyone! My son is 3.5 and is enrolled in Waldorf nursery in the fall. I decided to go back and get my real estate license and begin a new career, so this will be a big change for both of us. My son has always been with me, or with my Mom while I worked part time. Now he's going to go to Preschool, plus aftercare, 5 days a week.

I'm a little nervous (just about the transition), but I am in love with the school and teachers! I don't think I could have found a gentler place for him to begin his school experience.

I'm still learning about Waldorf, and I'm unsure how far we will continue on this path. I'm going to examine that year by year and see how we feel. But I most certainly knew after looking at other preschool programs and conventional daycare programs that there is NO WAY I'd send him anywhere else right now.

So I guess you could say we are just beginning our Waldorf journey.

[cheenya]

Hi
I'm really new to Waldorf and looking forward to learning more. My DD and I were in a one day a week parent/toddler program this past year, we're spending the summer transtioning to a 2 day a week preschool program. Around here there are only waldorf schools available through Kindergarten, and I'm thinking strongly of homeschooling once we get past that point, but for now I'm loving being part of the community at our waldorf school, its such a warm loving environment .
-katrina

[smilla653]

Another Chicago Waldorfian

DS is almost 13 months, and we loved our parent-child classes at the Chicago Waldorf school. I've read the usual suspects: Under the Rainbow Bridge, You Are Your Child's First Teacher, Seven Times the Sun.

We will be continuing in the fall....that is, if we don't move. DH is doing a job search, and we could end up in the Seattle area.

I know what you guys mean about being tempted to mold your life around Waldorf. I really want to keep going to Waldorf (at least through early childhood) so I guess I'd better start trying to learn about the different Seattle-area schools!

I had been wondering about the skirt thing myself.... are WE supposed to be wearing skirts, or just the teachers?

[LindaCl]

Originally Posted by smilla653

I had been wondering about the skirt thing myself.... are WE supposed to be wearing skirts, or just the teachers?

Hello smilla!

The teachers for the younger children usually wear loose, longish skirts in the schools. It is a very practical uniform working with these children, imho. I remember my own children were often hanging on my leg when they were this age...I imagine this happens in the school too. The skirts offer a soft and snugly stuff to clutch or cozy up against than knees and thighs.

When I was very small, I had several older aunts who wore old lady flower patterned dresses all the time...*never* pants. The skirts were unusual to me--only older ladies wore them, but they really made an impression--it was kind of cozy and comforting to be eye level with these flowy skirts. They felt protective, maybe sometimes a little like playing behind drapes.

But none of the teachers I know ever suggested parents to wear them.........I think that would be pretty presumptuous myself.

Linda

[Deborah]

One of the teacher's at the Chicago WS who taught early childhood classes was a pants sort of lady. Early in her career there the other teachers tried to get her to wear skirts all the time. She went along with it for a little while, decided it wasn't her, and switched to wearing an apron over her pants. The children adored her, nevertheless.

I've never heard a teacher make suggestions about what parents should wear, only, occasionally, express concern about whether children were dressed right for the weather.

Deborah